The Jones County Board of Commissioners’ July meeting was so brief that one of its members, who was running a few minutes late, only made it in time for the closed session at the end of the meeting.
Board Chairman Chris Weidner called the July 2 meeting to order, and the opening prayer and pledge were led by Tim Ingram with Ingram and Associates Consulting Engineers.
Under board appointments, Weidner said Emory Lamar and Joy Carr agreed to serve on the Jones County Department of Family and Children Services Board for five-year terms.
Commissioner John Wood made the motion to reappoint Lamar, and Commissioner Daylon Martin made the motion to reappoint Carr to the positions. Each of the motions were approved unanimously.
Weidner said Tracy McSwain agreed to serve on Jones County’s Public Facilities Authority Board for another two-year term. Martin made the motion to reappoint McSwain to the PFA board, and the motion was approved unanimously.
New Business
Ingram presented the first item of new business, which was a change order for the Graham Road Water Main project. He said the change order was in the amount of $190,709 to replace the existing water main on Lite N Tie Road that had ruptured twice in the past two years.
Ingram said the budget for the entire project was $4,735,436, and it was expected to be completed under budget.
Commissioner Sam Kitchens asked if there was a contingency fund in for the project, and Ingram explained that County Administrator Jason Rizner wanted the commissioners to be aware of the change order.
Weidner said there had been a lot of leaks in that water line.
“Replacing this waterline has been long coming,” he said.
Kitchens made the motion to approve the waterline project, and the vote to approve was unanimous.
Jones County Water Superintendent Brandon Stark requested approval of a quote for the installation of a fence at the water department. He said he received two quotes that were above the $25,000 threshold, and a third quote was even higher.
Stark explained that employees had cleared the area, and all they needed was the fence. He said the lowest quote was $30,100 and asked to forgo the normal bid process.
Kitchens made the motion to approve the bid, and the motion was approved unanimously.
With no more business items on the agenda, the chairman asked for any comments. The only comments from board members were wishes for a safe Fourth of July holiday for everyone.
The meeting was adjourned to enter closed session for litigation at 6:08 p.m. At the conclusion of the closed session, the meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m.
The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled July 16.
